I agree, Brietta. There is also the possibility that Madeleine woke up during the burglary, started crying and Brückner killed her (perhaps accidentally) and took her away. Although this is not what Mr Wolters is thinking and not by any action of her parents. My opinion. Wolters says that Brückner took Madeleine and killed her soon afterwards.
If we look at this theory with cold eyes, and without the usual 'oooh, but did the McCann's act this way or that, crap', is his subsequent behaviour that of a escalating 'psychopath' as I've seen him described?
I don't think it does. He's going about his usual, criminal, sex case manner. He hasn't taken flight, per se, he's continuing his slipshod, prolific criminal activity of all hues, in several countries, using various vehicles and keeping them / selling them via legitimate means.
I read he had his teeth done. Quite why he didn't attempt to get that boss eye fixed is beyond me, but his surgery is cosmetic and not that of a man looking to reinvent himself and wholesale change his appearance.
So with all that said, in the teeth of (what became) the largest missing child hunt ever and knowing that he'd have to go to ground immediately, is this the behaviour of Europe's Most Wanted?
Bear in mind this is not a sophisticated man; he's a sex case with no plan apart from sexual gratification and minor league theft. This is the man leaves his DNA at the scene. As thick as a submarine door, yet he evades capture and continues his merry way across Europe, thieving, noncing and growing carrots.
HCW has something on those memory cards, that's plain, but I don't think it's in the context some think.